By Lola Idahosa, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has flagged off the national school agriculture program aimed at training students on rudiments of farming right from the schools.
Speaking during the flag off ceremony held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Thursday, the Governor expressed the need to practically engage students in various agricultural practices in line with government target of diversifying the country’s economy.
Gov Yero expressed happiness over the programme initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan saying the program is a welcome development; hence the need to fully embrace agriculture as a means of ensuring a future generation that is less dependent on oil revenue.
Yero said Kaduna state is proud to be part of the 12 pilot states to showcase the program adding that “agriculture is a gold mine that needs to be tapped in; therefore it is imperative to encourage the young ones to develop interest in the sector.”
He assured that, the present administration in Kaduna State will do all it takes to ensure the sustainability of the program while pledging to extend the program to schools across the state.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on school agricultural program, Dr. Baraka Sani said the program is aimed at catching them young to key into exploring the opportunities in agricultural sector.
She said the program was initiated by President Jonathan to ensure food security in the country saying “the program is divided into different segment which includes learning, partnership, monitoring and evaluation.”
Dr. Baraka commended Governor Yero for his commitment to transform Kaduna state through initiation of various program in the agricultural sector. Three schools have been selected to participate as pilots in the Schools Agricultural Programme in Kaduna State which include; Government Secondary School, Zuntu in Agro Processing, Government Secondary School, Zangon Aya in Vegetable Production and Government Girls Secondary School, Zonkwa in Poultry.
